Automatic capping machine



p 1956 c. D. MAGNESEN 2,762,177

AUTOMATIC CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.c Owen 0, MAGNESE/Y irroemsx- P 11, 1955 c. D. MAGNESEN AUTOMATICCAPPING MACHINE 4 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1953 INVENTOR. (#4191 E50. ffAfiAfiSiA' iTTOEIEX United States Patent AUTOMATIC CAPPIN G MACHINECharles D. Magnesen, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Magnesen Seal andClosure Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationMay 12, 1953, Serial No. 354,557

13 Claims. (Cl. 53-128) My invention relates to capping machines.

My invention relates more particularly to a capping machine for applyingtwo-piece caps or closures to the open end of a container adapted toreceive the same.

Caps or closures of the type to which I refer are shown and described inmy previously issued United States Patent No. 2,556,765. The capconsists of two pieces, a cover having a circular peripheral ridge, theridge having a plurality of downwardly depending finger members whichembrace the open end of a container, and a retainer ring whichtelescopes over the finger members of the cover. It has a rolled overtop edge to engage on top of the cover and a rolled up lower edge toreinforce the retainer ring. at this point. The closure is soconstructed that it may be used and reused for hermetically sealingcontainers.

In commercial use today where containers are filled on a rapidlyoperating filling machine, it is desirable to afiix closures at the samerate of speed at which the Containers are being filled. Machines havebeen made and are now in use which separate a cover from a stack, dropit on a container and then proceed to frictionally fasten the cover tothe container. All of these machines, however, handle only one-piececovers which are either frictionally attached to the container, or, asin the case of screw covers, are threaded on the neck of the container.

In attaching the two-piece closure, shown in the above mentioned patent,to a container built to receive the same, it is necessary to firstseparate the two parts of the closure, then place the cover on thecontainer and then place the retainer ring over the cover to lock thecover in place. This, obviously, is considerably more difiicult thanmerely dropping a one-piece cover in place and pressing it down to closethe container.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a cappingmachine for afiixing a two-piece closure to a container in a sealingposition.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a machine of this typethat will separate the cover and the retainer ring, place the cover overthe open end of a container, and then place the retainer ring over thecover and seal the cap on the container, all in the downward stroke ofthe capping machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed which may be manually operated, semi-automatic, or completelyautomatic in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine whichautomatically separates the cover and retainer ring, holds the retainerring in place while other mechanism moves the cover down over the openend of a container, and then moves the retainer ring down over the coverand end of the container thereby completing the capping of thecontainer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed which is capable of performing the above operations in timedsynchronism with the operation of filling machines.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, uponwhich Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2-A is a perspective view of one of the retainer aws;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view above the centering orretaining jaws and cover support platform, taken generally on the line.33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the centering orretaining jaws and the plunger and associated parts, taken generally onthe line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the plunger beginning the first step ofits operation;

Fig. 5 is a similar view but in a changed position showing the coverseparated from the retainer ring and dropped on the container with theperipheral fingers of the cover in a spread position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view in a further changed position showing theplunger pressing the retainer ring down to seal the closure on thecontainer; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 3, showing themanner in which the platform stops the downward movement of the secondplunger.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate anddescribe the same, I have shown a rotatable turret 20 driven in anysuitable manner by the shaft 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, asshown. The turret 20 may be rotated above a table 24 which communicateswith a conveyor from a filling machine. The conveyor carries thecontainers 26 forward to be received in the pockets 28 of the turret,each of the pockets being formed with a protruding flange 30 whichassists in moving the containers forward. A suitable guide rail 32 maybe provicled to direct the containers carried by the turret forward to acap dropping mechanism 34. A suitable conveyor 36 operated in timedrelation with the movement of the turret 20 is adapted to carry theclosed containers forward from the capping mechanism 34, the conveyorhaving suitable side guide members 38 and 40 and container moving lugs42 on the surface of the same.

The turret 20 is timed to operate so that it moves 60 degrees and thenstops for a definite period for the capping operation to take place. Thecapping mechanism which I provide may comprise generally a pair ofreciprocating plungers 44 and 46, the plunger 46 being rigidly attachedto positive reciprocating mechanism (not shown), and the plunger 44being concentric thereof and operating under the tension of a yieldablecompression spring 49 positioned within the positively driven plunger46. The plunger 44 has an annular ledge which normally rests against aperipheral shoulder 47 in the bore of plunger 46.

The caps or closures which are adapted to be placed upon containers bythis capping mechanism consist of two parts, the cover C having acircular peripheral ridge C and a plurality of downwardly dependingfinger members C The second part of the cap or closure is a re tainerring R having a rolled over top edge R and an outwardly rolled loweredge R Caps of this type may be fed forward in any suitable manner froma stack on the platform 48 and positioned upon a plurality of centeringor retaining jaws 50. In the embodiment shown the caps are hand fed,that is moved forward on the platform 48 against the forward faces 58 ofthe jaws 50 with the retainer ring resting on the forwardly projectinglips 52 of the jaws 50. Each jaw has a lip 52 which projects inwardlyover a circular opening 54 in the platform 48, the opening 54' having abevelled upper edge 56 for a purpose which will hereinafter be apparent.The lip 52 is wider than the upright portion of the jaw Sil to presentmore support for the caps, the lip having extensions 52a on both endsthereof.

Each of the jaws 50 has an arcuate vertical forward wall 58 terminatingin a bevelled upper edge 60. They are mounted for horizontalreciprocating movement in a notch 62 in the platform 48 and a guideblock 64 fastened on the platform by means of screw members 66. Each ofthe guide blocks 64 has an open-ended slot 68 formed with parallel sidewalls 70 to guide the jaw St? in its back and forth reciprocation, thejaw being held on the platform 48 by means of a set screw 72 whichpasses through an elongated hole 74 in the jaw and is screw-threadedlymounted by a stud 76 in the platform 48. Compression springs 78 normallyurge the jaws forward to the position shown in Fig. 3.

From the description thus far, it can be seen that when the two-piececaps are moved forward on the platform 43, automatically or otherwise,they center themselves upon the front faces 58 of the jaws 50 with therolled over edge R of the retainer ring resting upon the protruding lips52 of the jaws 50.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6 which illustrate the stepby-ste action ofthe capping machine plunger, after the caps have been moved to thestation position and a container 26 is moved forward by the turret torest position below the capping mechanism, the plunger 44 movesdownwardly to first separate the cover C from the retainer ring R. Thisis done by continued downward pressure of the circular edge 44a of theplunger 44 which separates the cover C from the retainer ring R anddrops it on top of the open end of the container 26.

It will be noted that the cover C is bulged outwardly in its closing orassembled condition. However, as the cover is pressed downwardly by theplunger 44 and separated from the retainer ring R, the cover comes torest on a container and the entire cover is sprung or concaved as shownin Fig. 5, thereby spreading apart the fingers C to a slightly largerdiameter than the outside diameter of the edge of the open end of thecontainer 26. In this condition, even though the container may beslightly off center below the plunger, the entire periphery of the openend of the continer is surrounded and automatically centered under thecapping mechanism.

The third and final step of the capping operation is the downwardmovement of the retainer ring R, the outer plunger 46 continuingdownwardly to press against the top of the same. Before the lower edge46a of the plunger 46 engages the rolled over top R of the retainerring, the shoulder 46b engages the bevelled edges 60 of the retainingjaws to radially spread the same and permit the retainer ring to dropover the edge of the cover. Further downward pressure of the plunger 46presses the retainer ring down to sealing position, locking the cover onthe container. At the end of this storke the combined plungers arewithdrawn to the rest position shown in Fig. 2, and the next cap is fedforward on the platform 48 to rest upon the protruding lips 52 of thecentering jaws 50. When the next container is moved forward by theturret 20 to the capping station, the operation is automaticallyrepeated.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided amachine which is capable of separating the two parts of the two-piececlosure shown in my above mentioned previous patent, and then inconsecutive operations fastening first the cover and then the retainerring into position over the open end of a container 26. By pressing thecover down over the open end of the container, the cover is sprung froma slight concave to a slight convex curvature, this action tending tospread the retaining fingers outwardly so that even though a containeris not exactly centered under the capping mechanism, the

- open end of the same will be engulfed within the confines of thefingers and as the retainer ring is brought down to securely fasten thecover over the end of the container, the positive downward pressureeffectually centers and effectually seals the two-piece cover on thecontainer.

It will be apparent that the construction which I have providedcontemplates the provision of a hand-operated, a semi-automatic, or acompletely automatic operation. For example, filled containers may bemanually placed in position below the capping mechanism, the caps maythen be manually placed in capping position on the lips of the retainingjaws, and a hand-operated lever may be employed to bring the operatingplungers downwardly to perform the capping operations. Alternatively,the containers may be fed in timed synchronism with a filling machine totheir location below the capping machine, caps may be manually fed tothe retaining jaws, and by operating a switch, the plungers may bemechanically actuated to effect a cap separating and then a cappingoperation. For a completely automatic operation, the containers may befed in timed sequence to the capping mechainsm, the caps may beautomatically fed to the same, and the plungers actuated, all as part ofan automatic timed operation.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do notwish to be I limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secureand protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A capping machine for separating the cover and the retainer ring of atwo-piece cap and then placing first the cover and then the retainerring on the end of an open container, comprising a horizontal platformhaving a circular opening therein larger than the outside diameter ofthe retainer ring of the cap, spring-pressed radially disposed jawmembers extending inwardly from the periphery of said opening to hold acap in operative position, means below the platform for holding acontainer to be capped, means above the platform for separating a coverfrom its retainer ring and pushing it down over the end of a container,and other means for spreading said jaw members and then moving theretainer ring down over the cover after it has been placed upon thecontainer, said first named means including a plunger and said secondnamed means including a second plunger concentric to said first plunger.

2. A capping machine for separating the cover and the retainer ring ofatwo-piece cap and then placing first the cover and then the retainerring on the end of an open container, comprising a horizontal platformhaving a circular opening therein larger than the outside diameter ofthe'retainer ring of said cap, spring-pressed radially disposed jawmembers extending inwardly from the periphery of said opening to hold acap in operative position, means below the platform for holding acontainer to be capped, means above the platform for separating a coverfrom its retainer ring and pushing it down over the end of a container,and other means for spreading said jaws and then moving the retainerring down over the cover after it has been placed upon the container,said first named means including a plunger and said second named meansincluding a second plunger concentric to said first plunger, both ofsaid plungers being reciprocally operated in timed relation.

3. A capping machine for separating the cover and the retainer ring of atwo-piece cap and then placing first the cover and then the retainerring on the end of an open container, said machine including a rotatableturret for moving containers to zontal platform above one side of saidturret, said platform having a circular opening therein larger than theoutside diameter of the retainer ring of said cap, springpressedradially disposed jaw members extending inwardly from the periphery ofsaid opening to hold a cap in operative position, each of said jawshaving a protruding lip, means below the platform for holding acontainer to be capped, a vertically reciprocal plunger mounted abovesaid platform for separating a cover from its retainer ring and pushingit down over the end of a container,

at capping position, a horiand a second vertically reciprocal plungerfor spreading said jaws and then moving the retainer ring down over thecover after it has been placed upon the container.

4. A capping machine for separating the cover and the retainer ring of atwo-piece cap and then placing first the cover and then the retainerring on the end of an open container, said machine including a rotatableturret for moving containers to a capping position, a horizontalplatform above one side of said turret, said platform having a circularopening therein larger than the outside diameter of the retainer ring ofsaid cap, springpressed radially disposed jaw members extending inwardlyfrom the periphery of said opening to hold a cap in operative position,each of said jaws having a protruding lip, means below the platform forholding a container to be capped, a vertically reciprocal plungermounted above said platform forv separating a cover from its retainerring and pushing it down over the end of a container, and a secondvertically reciprocal plunger for spreading said jaws to release aretainer ring and then moving the retainer ring down over the coverafter the cover has been placed upon the container, said second plungerbeing concentric to said first plunger and acting after said firstplunger has acted.

5. A machine for placing two-piece caps on an openended container, thecaps being of the type that have a cover with downwardly projectingfingers and a retainer ring for telescoping over the edge of the coverand the projecting fingers to fasten the same over the mouth of theopen-ended container, the container having a peripheral groove spacedfrom the end of the same to receive the fingers in a sealing condition,said machine comprising a support for a container, a platform above theopen end of said container, said platform having an opening therethroughabove said container, jaws about the edge of said opening, each of saidjaws having a lip protruding forward in said opening, a two-piece capsupported on the lips of said jaws, a plunger mechanism directly abovesaid platform axially aligned with the center of said opening, saidplunger having concentric members that move downwardly, the inner membermoving downwardly first to separate a cover from its retainer ring andby continuing downward movement place the cover over the mouth of saidcontainer, and said second plunger mem ber moving downwardly next tospread said jaws, thereby permitting said retainer ring to drop, andthen continuing downwardly to press said retainer ring down to a sealingposition on the end of the container over the depending fingers of saidcover.

6. A machine for placing circular two-piece caps on an open-endedcontainer, the caps being of the type that have a cover with downwardlyprojecting fingers and a retainer ring for telescoping over the edge ofthe cover and the projecting fingers to fasten the same over the openended mouth of the circular container that has a peripheral groovespaced from the end of the same to receive the fingers in a sealingcondition, said machine comprising a support for a container, a platformabove the open end of said container, said platform having a circularopening therethrough above said container, radially disposed jaws aboutthe edge of said opening, each of said jaws having an arcuate lipprotruding forward in said opening, a two-piece cap supported on thelips of said jaws, a plunger mechanism directly above said platformaxially aligned with the center of said opening, said plunger havingconcentric members that move downwardly, the inner member movingdownwardly first to separate a cover from its retainer ring and bycontinuous downward movement place the cover over the mouth of saidcontainer, and said second plunger member moving downwardly next tospread said jaws, thereby permitting said retainer ring to drop and thencontinuing downwardly to press said retainer ring down 6 to a sealingposition on the end of the container over the depending fingers of saidcover.

7. A capping machine for applying assembled twopiece caps which consistof a cover and a retainer ring to a container, comprising a support fora container, a platform above the open end of said container, saidplatform having an opening therethrough above said container,spring-pressed radial jaws about the edge of said opening, each of saidjaws having a lip protruding forward in said opening, a plungermechanism directly above said platform axially aligned with the centerof said opening, said plunger having concentric members that movedownwardly, the inner member moving downwardly first to separate a coverfrom its retainer ring and by continuous downward movement place thecover over the open end of a container, and said second plunger membermoving downwardly next to move said lips away from said opening topermit a cover to drop through said opening and then continuing down topress the retainer ring down to lock a cover in a sealing position onthe end of a container.

8. A capping machine for applying assembled two-piece caps which consistof a cover and a retainer ring to a container, comprising a support fora container, a platform above the open end of said container, saidplatform having an opening therethrough above said container,spring-pressed radial jaws about the edge of said opening, each of saidjaws having a lip protruding forward in said opening, a plungermechanism directly above said platform axially aligned with the centerof said opening, said plunger having concentric members that movedownwardly, the inner member moving downwardly first to separate a coverfrom its retainer ring and by continuous downward movement place thecover over the open end of a container, said second plunger membermoving downwardly next to move said lips away from said opening topermit a cover to drop through said opening and then continuing down topress the retainer ring down to lock a cover in a sealing position onthe end of a container, said plunger members automatically reciprocatedin timed relation.

9. A machine for placing a two-piece cap on an openended circularcontainer, the caps being of the type that has a circular cover withdownwardly projecting fingers and a circular retainer ring fortelescoping over the edge of the cover and the projecting fingers toaffix the cap over the mouth of the open-ended circular containerconstructed to receive said cap in a sealing condition, said machinecomprising a support for a container, a platform above said support,said platform having a circular opening therethrough of a diameterlarger than said cap, means for moving containers forward on saidsupport to a spot below said opening, jaws about the edge of saidopening for supporting a two-piece cap, each of said jaws having a lipprotruding forward in said opening, a plunger mechanism directly abovesaid platform axially aligned with the center of said opening, saidplunger having concentric members, the inner member adapted to separatea cover from its retainer ring while the cover is held by the lips ofsaid jaws, and by continuous downward movement place the same over themouth of said container, and said second plunger member adapted tofollow and move said jaws apart to release said retainer ring and thenmove down to press the retainer ring on a cover in a sealing positionover the end of a container.

10. The method of machine applying circular twopiece caps to anopen-ended circular container, the caps being of the type which have acircular cover portion with downwardly projecting fingers and a circularretainer band for telescoping over the edge of the cover and thedownwardly projecting fingers, which consists of the steps of placing anassembled two-piece cap on a fingered support above the open-endedcontainer, holding the retainer ring stationary with said fingeredsupport while pushing the cover down to separate the same from the 7consists of the steps of placing an assembled two-piece cap on a supportabove the open-ended container, holding the retainer ring stationary,pushing the cover down to separate the same from the retainer ringandplacing it on the open-ended container and then pressing down theretainer ring over the edge of the cover and downwardly projectingfingers to lock said two-piece cap on the container.

12. The method of machine applying finger grip overcentering covers andtheir locking rings to open-mouthed containers which comprises the stepsof supporting the over-centering cover and its locking ring at aposition elevated from the open mouth of a flanged ring container,ejecting first with a downward stroke the over-centering cover and atthe same time depressing its over-centering panel to expand theperipheral fingers, placing the overcentering cover so that its fingersencompass the flange ring of the container and then depressing thelocking ring to embrace the fingers and constrict them into lookingposition surrounding the locking ring.

13. The method of machine applying finger grip overcentering covers andtheir locking ringsto open-mouthed containers which comprises the stepsof supporting the over-centering cover and its locking ring at aposition elevated from the open mouth of a flanged ring container,ejecting first with a downward stroke the over-centering cover and atthe same time depressing its over-centering panel to expand theperipheral fingers, placing the overcentering cover so that its fingersencompass the flange ring of the container, withdrawing the support forthe locking ring, and then depressing the locking ring to emhrace thefingers and constrict them'into locking position surrounding the lockingringr References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHawkins Sept. 19,1933 Atwood Apr. 7, 1953

